Former Little Chowder Bowl
252 Bradford Street. [2016, Dunlap]
[2009, Dunlap]
Text last updated on 11 January 2010 | Mary Campbell, sister of Philip Alexander, was a renowned chef who converted 252 Bradford Street — built around 1850 in the Greek Revival style — into the Little Chowder Bowl restaurant (also known as the Chowder Bowl Inn), “famous for lobster bisque, clam chowder and fresh blueberry pies.” Be sure to see the comments below on the history of the house in recent decades.
Irene Rabinowitz wrote on 12 June 2011: I have lived in this house on and off since the mid-’80s (now owned by my ex-husband who lives on Martha’s Vineyard). When we moved in originally, Philly Alexander (248 Bradford) brought flowers from his incredible garden which was kept up by Jim Bakker and Russell Bigelow when they lived there. Napi lived in this house also and remembers a “victory garden” in the backyard and explained to me the reason for the tin ceilings being installed (plaster kept getting damaged by the rumble of the trains), some of which are still here. The kitchen is large and I can visualize what it must have been as a small cafe.
Jim Costa wrote on 5 January 2012: My family lived in this house from 1965 (?) ’til 1983-ish. During that time there was a front porch across the front of the house with an awning above. There was also a fence across the front of the property, a weeping willow in the front and a grape vine, as well as a crab apple tree in the back.
Irene Rabinowitz wrote on 5 January 2012: Jim – thanks! We bought the house from Sheila (your mom?) and Dick in 1986 and the porch came off when the the house was given clapboards and shingles in early 1987. The willow and crab apple tree were, alas, gone by the time I moved in.
Denise Avallon wrote on 16 January 2012: In 1940, Anton Van Dereck created and sold his bracelets here, according to the Advocate, Dec. 12.
¶ Republished on 14 October 2023.
252 Bradford Street on the Town Map, showing property lines.